Positioning of a Container in a Beverage Dispensing Apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a beverage dispensing assembly ( 11 ) comprising a tapping device ( 10 ) for connection to pressure means ( 13 ), a container ( 1 ) connectable to the tapping device ( 10 ), a base element ( 8 ), wherein at least a section of an outer surface of a bottom part ( 5 ) of the container ( 1 ) is outwardly curved with a predetermined radius of curvature ( 4 ) and the base element ( 8 ) is outwardly curved with said predetermined radius of curvature ( 4 ′) for receiving the bottom part ( 5 ) of the container ( 1 ), wherein a center point ( 3 ) of the radius of curvature is provided on a central axis ( 6 ) of the container ( 1 ) and the radius of curvature ( 4 ) is in the range of 0.6 to 1.6 times the height of the container ( 1 ), the height of the container ( 1 ) being measured from an intersection point of the central axis ( 6 ) with an upper surface ( 12 ) of the container ( 1 ) to an intersection point of the central axis ( 6 ) with the curvature of the bottom part ( 5 ).

The present invention relates to a beer dispensing apparatus for domestic applications. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding container design.

Beer dispensing apparatuses are known in the art for dispensing draft beer in taverns and the like. Typically, the beer is chilled prior to being dispensed by passing through a conical tube that passes through a chilled compartment containing ice and water. Such draft beer dispensers are utilized in taverns where large volumes of beer are dispensed everyday and the taverns have room to store such chillers.

Recently, beer dispensing apparatuses for domestic application have been introduced, which are adapted to sit on a countertop in a kitchen where there is only little space. Such a beverage dispensing assembly is disclosed in EP-A2 1 213 258. Said beverage dispensing assembly comprises an outer housing having a tapping device and pressure means, and a container being placeable in the outer housing, the container comprising a CO₂-containing beverage and having a deformable wall part which is compressible by the pressure means, an outlet and a flexible tube connectable to the outlet for dispensing the beverage from the container upon deformation of the flexible wall part by the pressure means, this tube comprising an outflow end positioning means for releasably engaging with the tapping device.

These known beer dispensing apparatuses for domestic application suffer from the fact that an exact positioning of the container in the outer housing is difficult to achieve. Thus, many attempts are necessary to place the container in the exact position needed for a reliable leak-proof connection of pressure means of the housing, in this case a gas pressure port, to a gas pressure port of the tapping device. Numerous attempts focusing on the interface aspect have been undertaken to provide a solution which allows fast, easy and proper handling in order to ensure an exact positioning of the container in the outer housing, so that the pressure means fit tightly to the gas pressure port of the tapping device without requiring further positioning once the container has been placed on a base element, even if the center of the container bottom has for example been slightly displaced from its optimal perpendicular position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a beverage dispensing apparatus, preferably for domestic application, which ensures a fast, easy and leak-proof interface for pressure means in the housing with a tapping device once r the container has been placed in the outer housing and on its base element, even if the center of the container bottom has been slightly displaced from its optimal position on the base element, which causes a parallel movement of the tapping device on top of the container relative to the displacement of the center of the bottom of the container placed on said base element.

This object has been achieved by a beverage dispensing assembly comprising

a tapping device for connection to pressure means;

a container connectable to the tapping device;

a base element;

wherein at least a section of an outer surface of a bottom part of the container is outwardly curved with a predetermined radius of curvature and the base element is outwardly curved with said predetermined radius of curvature for receiving the bottom part of the container,

wherein a center point of the radius of curvature is provided on a central axis of the container and the radius of curvature is in the range of 0.6 to 1.6 times the height of the container, the height of the container being measured from an intersection point of the central axis with an upper surface of the container to an intersection point of the central axis with the curvature of the bottom part.

The tapping device of the container is preferably arranged on top of the surface of the container, and more preferably at the center of the top surface of the container.

The term “arranged on top of the surface” according to the present invention means that the tapping device of the container can also at least partly be integrated in the wall section of the top surface of the container as well as extend from the upper or lower wall section of the top surface of the container.

However, the tapping device can also be connected to the container via an adaptor, which is arranged at an inner bag of the container. If this is the case, the adaptor can be located such that the tapping device has to be engaged into the container to interface with said adaptor.

The bottom part is the part of the container which extends from the lower side walls of the container to the bottom center. It is preferred that the container has essentially the form of a cylinder and that the bottom part extends from the lower side wall of the cylinder to the bottom center. Most preferably, the container has the shape of a keg, with the bottom part extending from the lower side wall of the keg to the bottom center. The top part of the container extends from the upper side wall of the keg to the top center.

The container comprises a beverage, preferably a carbonated beverage and most preferably beer. Furthermore, it is preferred that the container contains at least one bag having a deformable wall part which is compressible for dispensing beverages from the container upon deformation of the flexible wall part of said bag caused by gas pressure produced for example by pressure means.

The container according to the present invention comprises at least one adaptor which is placed on top of the container, the adaptor preferably being placed in the center on top of the container. It is designated that the adaptor has at least one beverage port and at least one gas pressure port. However, it can be possible that the adaptor has additional ports, for example an extra port to fill the container or bag with beverages.

In the case that the container contains an inner bag, which inner bag contains the beverage, the adaptor arranged on top of the container comprises a gas pressure port, which allows gas to flow under pressure, separate from the beverage flow, into the interspace between the inner container wall and the outer compressible wall part of the bag. Upon deformation of the flexible wall part of said bag due to the gas pressure, beverages can separately flow from the inner bag through the beverage port.

One adaptor which can be used for a beverage dispensing assembly according to the present invention is described in WO 03/050031, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.

The beverage dispensing assembly according to the present invention can comprise at least one container, the surface of the outer bottom part of said container having at least one outer flat-shaped surface section and at least one outer outwardly curved surface section. It may be preferred that the center section of the outer surface of the container bottom is flat and surrounded by an adjacent outwardly curved container bottom.

When placing a container, preferably a keg, on a base element of a beverage dispensing assembly, the tapping device has to be interfaced with the pressure means comprised in the housing.

The term “designated position” according to the present invention means for example a position at which the center point on top of the container is in a perpendicular position to the center point of the bottom surface of the container and/or a position at which the tapping device on top of the container is arranged to permit an interface with pressure means of the housing, such that both ideally correspond to each other in a positive fit.

The tilt motion of a container is measured relative to the longitudinal center axis of a container placed at the designated position. The tilt angle is the angle between the longitudinal center axis of a container placed at the designated position and the longitudinal center axis of a displaced container measured from the intersection point of both longitudinal center axes.

For example, if the tapping device, for the purpose of releasably engaging with the pressure means, engages in an outer housing of the beverage dispensing assembly according to the present invention and/or interacts with the beverage dispensing assembly according to the present invention, such that the tapping device has a predetermined position at which it can be interfaced with the pressure means of the housing, it is important when placing the container on a base element that the tapping device on top of the container is in the correct interface position to be connected. Thus, it is important that the center of the container bottom is placed in a specific position on the base element, so that the tapping device on top of the container has the correct position to be interfaced with the pressure means comprised in the housing. However, this means that if the container is displaced, the center of the container bottom is not placed in the predetermined position on the base element; the adaptor on top of the container will also be displaced parallel to the movement of the center of the container bottom. This displacement leads to removal of the interface between the tapping device on top of the container and the pressure means comprised in the housing.

In order to obtain a leak-proof interface between the tapping device on top of the container and the pressure means comprised in the housing, the beverage container has been so designed that even if the container is displaced on the base element the tapping device on top of the container and the pressure means can be interfaced tightly.

This is achieved by a beverage dispensing assembly according to the present invention, wherein the radius of curvature from the center point to the outwardly curved bottom part is in the range of 0.6 to 1.6 times the height of the container, in particular 0.75 to 1.30 times this height, preferably 0.85 to 1.15 times said height, and most preferably said radius of curvature is equal to the height of the container.

The at least partially outwardly curved bottom of the container provides that a displacement of the center point of the container bottom with respect to the correct position on the base element can be compensated to a certain extent by the parallel movement of the tapping device on top of the container, caused by said displacement, due to a tilt motion of the container. It should be noted that the tapping device on top of the container is preferably seated at the center thereof.

According to the present invention, the radius can be adjusted so that a tilt motion relative to the longitudinal axis of the container placed on a base element causes a horizontal movement of the center point on top of the upper surface of the container of at most 25% in a direction parallel to the movement, i.e. displacement, of the center point of the outer surface of the container bottom.

A beverage dispensing assembly according to the present invention can comprise a container, wherein the radius of curvature is 100 mm to 1000 mm, preferably 200 mm to 500 mm, and most preferably 250 mm to 350 mm; and/or the volume of the container is 1 l to 100 l, preferably 2 l to 50 l, more preferably 3 l to 25 l, and most preferably 5 l to 10 l; and/or the diameter of the container is 50 mm to 500 mm, preferably 100 mm to 300 mm, and most preferably 150 mm to 250 mm.

It can be advantageous if the container of the beverage dispensing assembly according to the present invention is designed such that a tilt motion relative to the longitudinal center axis of the container of at most 4°, preferably at most 2.5°, and more preferably at most 1.5°, causes a horizontal movement of the center point on top of the upper surface of the container of at most 25%, preferably at most 15%, and more preferably at most 10% of the parallel movement of the center point of the outer surface of the container bottom.

Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the container of the beverage dispensing assembly according to the present invention is designed such that a tilt movement of the longitudinal center axis of the container of 1.5° causes a horizontal movement of the center point of the radius of curvature of 3 mm to 2 mm, preferably 2 mm to 1 mm, and more preferably 1 mm to 0 mm; and/or a horizontal movement of the center point of the outer surface of the container bottom of 6 mm to 4 mm, preferably 4 mm to 2 mm, and more preferably 2 mm to 0 mm.

However, to avoid a displacement of the center bottom point of the container from the designated position which cannot be compensated by a tilt motion relative to the longitudinal center axis of the container to provide a proper interface, it is preferred that the base element has positioning means, preferably at its outer edge, so that a movement or displacement of the center bottom point of the container away from the designated position can be limited.

The upper surface of the base element adjacent to the outer container bottom surface is essentially flat. However, the upper surface of the base element adjacent to the outer container bottom surface can alternatively be concave. Further, the upper surface of the base element adjacent to the outer container bottom surface is essentially adapted in shape to the shape of the outer surface of the container bottom.

It is preferred that the outer edge section of the surface of the base element at least partially extends from the outer surface of the container bottom.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the base element, or at least a section of the top surface of the base element onto which the container is placed, functions as a chiller to cool the beverage in the container or inside the container bag.

Thus, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the beverage dispensing assembly comprises an outer housing into which a beverage container can be placed on a bottom plate. The outer housing avoids a displacement of the container from its designated position, which displacement cannot be compensated by a tilt motion in order to achieve a proper interface connection, i.e. a leakproof interface, of the tapping device with the pressure means, because the outer housing limits a possible displacement of the container in the same way as described above for the positioning means.

An embodiment of a beverage dispensing assembly according to the present invention can comprise:

an outer housing comprising the base element and pressure means;

the container, preferably a keg, with an adaptor connectable with the tapping device, wherein the container contains an inner bag for holding a beverage and said inner bag being placeable in the outer housing, said inner bag having a deformable wall part which is compressible, for dispensing beverages from the container upon deformation of the flexible wall part caused by gas pressure produced by the pressure means, and the outer housing comprising the base element for receiving the container, the base element of the outer housing functioning as a chiller, and the tapping device having at least one pressure port which is releasably connectable to the pressure means.

The beverage dispensing assembly of the present invention is further illustrated by drawings. It should be noted that the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments and drawings disclosed in the present invention, and thus covers other embodiments which make use of the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section of a first embodiment of a container with a tapping device arranged at the center of the top thereof and a base element, according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of an embodiment of a beverage dispensing assembly according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section of an embodiment of a container (1) with a tapping device (10) for connection to pressure means (13), and a base element (8), wherein at least a section of an outer surface of a bottom part (5) of the container (1) is outwardly curved with a predetermined radius of curvature (4) and the base element (8) is outwardly curved with said predetermined radius of curvature (4′) for receiving the bottom part (5) of the container (1), wherein a center point (3) of the radius of curvature is provided on a central axis (6) of the container (1) and the radius of curvature (4) is in the range of 0.6 to 1.6 times the height of the container (1), the height of the container (1) being measured from an intersection point of the central axis (6) with an upper surface (12) of the container (1) to an intersection point of the central axis (6) with the curvature of the bottom part (5). In this embodiment, the radius of curvature (4) is approximately equal to the height of the container (1). The container (1) is placed perpendicularly on the base element (8) in the designated position (7).

It can be easily understood from FIG. 1 that a movement of the center point (9) of the outer surface of the container bottom in the horizontal direction causes a displacement with respect to the designated position (7) as well as a parallel movement of the tapping device (10). Due to a tilt motion with respect to the central axis (6) of the container (1), the relative movement of the tapping device (10) on the top surface (3) is less compared to the parallel movement of the center point (9) of the outer surface of the container bottom (5). Thus, a tilt motion of about 1.5° relative to the longitudinal center axis (6) of the container (1) allows a leakproof interface between the tapping device (10) and pressure means (13) provided in the outer housing (12), see also FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows a beverage dispensing assembly (11) comprising a tapping device (10), an outer housing (12) (partly shown) having a base element (8) and pressure means (13), and a container in the form of a keg (1), wherein the container (1) contains an inner bag (not shown) comprising a beverage and being placeable in the outer housing (12), said inner bag having a deformable wall part which is compressible for dispensing beverages from the container (1) upon deformation of the flexible wall part caused by gas pressure produced by the pressure means (13), the outer housing (12) comprising a base element (8) for receiving the container (1), the base element (8) of the outer housing (12) functioning as a chiller, and the tapping device (10) having at least one pressure port (21) which is releasably connectable in a leakproof manner to the pressure means (13)). The outer center bottom surface (19) of the container (1) is flat and the adjacent bottom part (20) is outwardly curved, such that, in this embodiment, the radius from the center point (3) to the bottom part (20) is approximately equal to the height of the container (1). The base element (8) functions as a chiller to cool the beverage of the container (1). The pressure means (13) can be connected to the pressure port (21) of the tapping device (10). Furthermore, the container is kept in the designated position by positioning means (22).

It can further be taken from FIG. 2 that the specific shape of the outer surface bottom (5) of the beverage container (1) allows a tilt motion relative to the central axis (6) of the container (1), which minimizes the movement of the tapping device (10) placed on top of the container (1) relative to the movement of the center point (9) of the outer surface of the container bottom (5) to achieve a leakproof interface connection between the tapping device (10) and the pressure means (13), even if the container (1) is displaced from its designated position. The position of the container (1) can be further adjusted to its designated position if positioning means (22) are used. However, positioning means (22) can be used additionally but are not essential.

To minimize, i.e. reduce, a parallel movement of a tapping device positioned on top of a container relative to the parallel movement of the center of the bottom part of said container placed on a base element, a beverage dispensing assembly as described in the present application can be used. 

1. A beverage dispensing assembly comprising: a tapping device for connection to pressure means; a container connectable to the tapping device (10); a base element; wherein at least a section of an outer surface of a bottom part of the container is outwardly curved with a predetermined radius of curvature and the base element is outwardly curved with said predetermined radius of curvature for receiving the bottom part of the container, wherein a center point of the radius of curvature is provided on a central axis of the container and the radius of curvature is in the range of 0.6 to 1.6 times the height of the container, the height of the container being measured from an intersection point of the central axis with an upper surface of the container to an intersection point of the central axis with the curvature of the bottom part.
 2. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature is in the range of 0.75 to 1.30, preferably 0.85 to 1.15, and most preferably equal to the height of the container.
 3. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature is 100 mm to 1000 mm, preferably 200 mm to 500 mm, and most preferably 250 mm to 350 mm; and/or the volume of the container is 1 l to 100 l, preferably 2 l to 50 l, more preferably 3 l to 25 l, and most preferably 5 l to 10 l; and/or the diameter of the container is 50 mm to 500 mm, preferably 100 mm to 300 mm, and most preferably 150 mm to 250 mm.
 4. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the outer bottom part has at least one outer flat-shaped surface section and at least one outer outwardly curved surface section, preferably the center section of the outer surface of the container bottom being flat and being surrounded by an outwardly curved container bottom.
 5. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature is adjusted in such a way that a tilt motion of the container relative to the central axis of the container placed at the designated position on the base element causes a horizontal movement of the center point of the radius of curvature of at most 25% in a direction parallel to the movement of the center point of the outer surface of the container bottom.
 6. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein a tilt motion of the container relative to the central axis of the container placed at the designated position of at most 4°, preferably at most 2.5°, and more preferably at most 1.5°, causes a horizontal movement of the center point of the radius of curvature of at most 25%, preferably at most 15%, and more preferably at most 10% in a direction parallel to the movement of the center point of the outer surface of the container bottom.
 7. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein a tilt of the container relative to the central axis of the container placed at the designated position of 1.5° causes: a horizontal movement of the center point of the radius of curvature of 3 mm to 2 mm, preferably 2 mm to 1 mm, and more preferably 1 mm to 0 mm; and/or a horizontal movement of the center point of the outer surface of the container bottom of 6 mm to 4 mm, preferably 4 mm to 2 mm, and more preferably 2 mm to 0 mm.
 8. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1 comprising: an outer housing comprising the base element and pressure means; the container, preferably a keg, with an adapter connectable with the tapping device, wherein the container contains an inner bag for holding a beverage and said inner bag being placeable in the outer housing, said inner bag having a deformable wall part which is compressible, for dispensing beverages from the container upon deformation of the flexible wall part caused by gas pressure produced by the pressure means, and the outer housing comprising the base element for receiving the container, the base element of the outer housing functioning as a chiller, and the tapping device having at least one pressure port which is releasably connectable to the pressure means.
 10. A container for use with a beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least a section of an outer surface of a bottom part of the container is outwardly curved with a predetermined radius of curvature.
 11. A base element for use with a beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base element is outwardly curved with said predetermined radius of curvature for receiving the bottom part of the container. 